With Quinn Ewers set to move on to the NFL, the responsibility now shifts to Arch Manning to steer the Texas Longhorns into a new era. Even though key offensive players—Jaydon Blue, Matthew Golden, Isaiah Bond, and Gunnar Helm—have departed, Texas remains a strong competitor as Arch enters his second season. Additionally, the Longhorns boast the top recruiting class for 2025, according to On3. A few standout receivers from this class, along with the return of star running back Quintrevion Wisner, are expected to help Arch secure the role of full-time starter for the 2025-26 college football season.
Even though Arch hasn’t completed a full season yet, he’s already being projected as a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL draft—even though the Manning camp has made it clear he won’t be entering the draft that year. This projection led Texas to aggressively pursue elite quarterbacks from the 2026 recruiting class, ensuring they have a successor ready. Notably, Dia Bell, currently ranked as the fifth-best quarterback prospect in that class, committed to Texas in June 2024.
Similar to Manning, Bell comes from a family with strong athletic roots—his father is former NBA star Raja Bell, and he shines as a standout on his high school basketball team.
Although the Bell name may not have the same prestige as the Mannings, the Longhorns under Sarkisian seem well-prepared for the coming four years. For now, we eagerly await Arch Manning’s remaining tenure at Texas, while also watching Bell’s performance in his final high school season this fall.
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